A.S. in Medical Assisting

This program is designed for students wishing to enter a multi-skilled profession which involves assisting physicians, under direct supervision, in all aspects of medical practice. Medical Assistants perform administrative and clinical procedures, assist with patient care management and often conduct managerial functions. Students who successfully complete this program are prepared to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and/or the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through the American Medical Technologists.

The Medical Assisting Associate of Science Degree Program features accelerated instruction and prepares students with an appropriate foundation of skills and knowledge directly applicable to the healthcare support industry. The program emphasizes writing; computer applications; clinical/laboratory procedures; medical vocabulary; structure and function of the human body; biology and radiography.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010 Edition, states that employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 34 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. It states that “the increasing prevalence of certain conditions, such as obesity and diabetes, also will increase demand for healthcare services and medical assistants. Increasing use of medical assistants to allow doctors to care for more patients will further stimulate job growth. Helping to drive the job growth is the increasing number of group practices, clinics and other healthcare facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly medical assistants who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. In addition, medical assistants work mostly in primary care, a consistently growing sector of the healthcare industry. Medical assistants with formal training or experience—particularly those with certification—should have the best job opportunities, since employers generally prefer to hire these workers.”

According to Kentucky Occupational Outlook to 2014 (2006, p. 4) produced by the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, Labor Market Information, “nearly one-third of the new jobs created between 2004 and 2014 will be in three very large occupational groups.” One of the large groups, Healthcare Support Occupations is projected to grow at a fast rate of 24.4 percent because of the need to care for aging Kentuckians due to their longer life expectancy.

All coursework for this program is 100% online. There are two externship courses required at the end of the program.

Available through: ON

*A minimum grade of "C" in all major courses required for graduation.